Beverage cup holder for a shopping cart

ABSTRACT

A cup holder attached to or incorporated into a portion of an open top basket of a standard wire mesh shopping cart. The cup holder used for holding different types and sizes of beverage cups. The cup holder, in one embodiment, including a circular cup ring. The cup ring used for receiving a portion of a beverage cup therethrough. The cup ring attached to a swivel mounted on a top portion of a round vertical telescoping cup ring support. A lower portion of the cup ring support attached to a first side of the open top basket mounted on a cart frame of the shopping cart. Also, one or more cup rings may be incorporated into a bottom portion of a foldable rack attached to a rear of the open top basket. A portion of the various cup holders can include used for advertising.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (a) Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to beverage cup holders mounted ondifferent types of shopping carts used in various types of stores andmore particularly but not by way of limitation, to a beverage cup holderattached to or incorporated into a portion of an open top basket of astandard wire mesh shopping cart.

[0003] (b) Discussion of Prior Art

[0004] Heretofore, there have been a variety of different types ofbeverage cup holders and article holders for vehicles and shopping cartsused in different types of stores. For example, in U.S. Pat. No.5,494,306 to Adamson et al and 5,362,077 to Adamson, two different typesof shopping cart cup holders are disclosed. One cup holder is adjustablymounted on a shopping cart handle and the other holder can be retractedunder the handle of the shopping cart. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,382 toBergin et al., a cup holder is illustrated having a saddle that fitsover a top edge of the side of an open top shopping cart basket. In U.S.Pat. No. 5,490,653 to Ingwersen, a cup holder accessory is described forholding over-size drink cups in a standard size drink cup receptacle.

[0005] None of the above mentioned prior art shopping cart cup holdersspecifically disclose the unique features, structure, function andadvantages of the subject invention for attaching or incorporating intoa portion of an open top basket of a standard wire mesh shopping cart asdescribed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In view of the foregoing, it is a primary objective of thesubject invention to provide a beverage cup holder which can be easilyattached to a portion of an open top basket of a standard wire meshshopping cart.

[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide one or morebeverage cup holders that can be attached to the shopping cart but notinterfere with the operation of the cart or when the cart is nestedinside another shopping cart.

[0008] Still another object of the beverage cup holder is it can betelescoping for adjusting the height of the holder for the convenienceof the user of the shopping cart.

[0009] Yet another object of the cup holder is a portion of holderitself can be used for advertising without interfering with theoperation of holding and removing the beverage cup.

[0010] A further object of the invention is the cup holder can include asmall item carrier for items that typically might fall through theopenings in the wire mesh of the open top basket of the shopping cart.

[0011] Another object of the cup holder is it can be attached to a firstside of the open top basket, attached to a handle of the shopping cartor incorporated into a bottom portion of the a foldable rack mounted ata rear of the open top basket.

[0012] The cup holder, in one embodiment, includes a circular cup ring.The cup ring is used for receiving a portion of a beverage cuptherethrough. The cup ring is attached to a swivel. The swivel ismounted on a top portion of a round vertical telescoping cup ringsupport. The cup ring can be moved horizontally to various positionsabove the top of an open top basket of the shopping cart or to the sideof the open top basket. The top portion of the ring support is slidablyreceived in a lower portion of the cup ring support. The lower portionof the cup ring support is attached to a first side of the open topbasket. The open top basket is mounted on a cart frame of the shoppingcart. The cup ring support is designed to be raised and lowered tovarious heights for the convenience of the user of the shopping cart. Aportion of the cup holder can be used for advertising.

[0013] These and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent to those familiar with different types of beverage cup holdersand cup holders used with shopping carts when reviewing the followingdetailed description, showing novel construction, combination, and thevarious embodiments of the beverage cup holder as herein described, andmore particularly defined by the claims, it being understood thatchanges in the embodiments to the herein disclosed invention are meantto be included as coming within the scope of the claims, except insofaras they may be precluded by the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The accompanying drawings illustrate accompanying drawingscomplete preferred embodiments in the present invention according to thebest modes presently devised for the practical application of theprinciples thereof, and in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the beverage cup holder attachedto a swivel mounted on a top portion of a round telescoping cup ringsupport. The cup ring support is attached to a first side of an open topbasket of the shopping cart.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a similar cup holder as shown inFIG. 1 and includes a flat vertical slide cup ring support.

[0017]FIG. 3 is another perspective view of a cup holder mounted on aninverted “U” shaped cup support. The cup holder having a plurality ofcup holes in a cup holder plate for holding more than one beverage cup.

[0018]FIG. 4 is similar to the cup holder shown in FIG. 3 andillustrates the inverted “U” shaped cup support with a cup holder plateand a small item carrier suspended therefrom.

[0019]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cup holder with a cup ringincorporated into a bottom portion of a foldable rack mounted to a rearof the open top basket.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cup holder having a pair ofcup rings attached to a ring frame. The ring frame is pivotally attachedto the rear of the open top basket.

[0021]FIG. 7 is similar to the cup holder shown in FIG. 6 andillustrates a pair of cup rings mounted on a cup plate. The cup plate ispivotally attached to the rear of the open top basket.

[0022]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cup holder having a cup platewith cup opening therein. The cup plate includes a pair of clips ofreleasable attachment to a rear and side of the open top basket or tothe shopping cart handle and a side of the open top basket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] In FIG. 1, a perspective view of the subject beverage cup holderis shown and having general reference numeral 10. The cup holder 10includes a circular cup ring 12 adapted for receiving a portion of abeverage cup 14 therethrough. The cup ring 12 is attached to a swivel16. The swivel 16 is mounted on a top portion 18 of a round verticaltelescoping cup ring support 20. The cup ring 12 can be movedhorizontally to various positions above the top of an open top basket 22mounted on a frame 24 of a shopping cart. The shopping cart is shownhaving a general reference numeral 26 and is a typical wire meshshopping cart used in various retail stores. The top portion 18 of thering support 20 is slidably received in a lower portion 28 of the cupring support 20. The cup ring support 20 is attached to a first side 30of the open top basket 22. Using the telescoping cup ring support 20,the cup ring 12 and beverage cup 14 can be adjusted to various heightsabove the open top basket 22 for the convenience of the user of theshopping cart 26. Also, a portion of the cup ring support 20 can be usedfor advertising.

[0024] In FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a similar cup holder 10 asshown in FIG. 1. In this example, the cup ring 12 is pivotally attachedto a top portion 32 of a flat vertical slide ring support 34. The topportion 32 is slidably received in the top of a bottom portion 36. Thebottom portion 36 is attached to the first side 30 of the open topbasket 22.

[0025] In FIG. 3, another perspective view of a beverage cup holder isshown having general reference number 38. The cup holder 38 includes aninverted “U” shaped cup support 40 having a horizontal cross member 42,two horizontal support members 44 and two downwardly extending verticaltelescoping members 46. A lower portion 48 of the two vertical members46 are attached to the first side 30 and a second side 50 of the opentop basket 22. The cup holder 38 includes an “L” shaped cup plate 52having a plurality of cup holes 54 therein for holding more than onebeverage cups. The top of the cup plate 52 is pivotally attached to oneof the horizontal support members 44.

[0026] In FIG. 4, the cup holder 38, similar to the holder shown in FIG.3, is illustrated with the inverted “U” shaped cup support 40 includingthe “L” shaped cup plate 52 having a single cup hole 54. Also, the cupholder 38 includes a small item carrier 56 pivotally suspended from oneof the horizontal support members 44. The small item carrier 56 is usedfor holding various items that typically would fall through the openingsin the wire mesh open top basket 22.

[0027] In FIG. 5, a perspective view of a cup holder is shown having ageneral reference numeral 58. The cup holder 58 in this example includesa pair of cup ring 60, which are incorporated into a bottom portion 62of a foldable rack 64. The foldable rack 64 is mounted to a rear 66 ofthe open top basket 22. The cup rings 60 are obviously sized forreceiving a portion of a beverage cup 14 therethrough and holding thecup upright in the foldable rack 64 of the shopping cart 26. In thisdrawing, the foldable rack 64 is shown with the small item carrier 56suspended therefrom for use by the user of the shopping cart 26 inholding small items that would normally fall through the openings in theopen top basket 22.

[0028] In FIG. 6, a perspective view of still another the cup holderhaving a general reference numeral 68. The cup holder 68 includes a pairof cup rings 70 attached to a ring frame 72. The ring frame 72 includesa pair of pivot arms 74 pivotally attached to the rear 66 of the opentop basket 22. The pivot arms 74 are shown resting on a portion of ahandle 76 attached to the frame 24 of the shopping cart 26.

[0029] In FIG. 7, a perspective view of the cup holder 68 having a cupplate 78 rather than a ring frame 72 is shown. The cup plate 78 includesa pair of upwardly extending cups 80, which are dimensioned forreceiving the lower portion of the beverage cup 14. The cup plate 78 ispivotally attached to the rear 66 of the open top basket 22. A bottomportion of the cup plate 78 rests on a portion of the handle 76.

[0030] In FIG. 8, a perspective view of still another cup holder havinga general reference numeral 82. The cup holder 82 in this exampleincludes a cup plate 84 with a cup opening 86 therethrough. The cupplate 84 includes a pair of clips 88 used for releasable attachment tothe first side 30 or second side 50 and the rear 66 of the open topbasket 22. The clips 88 can also be used for releasably attaching thecup plate 84 to the handle 76 and one of the sides of the open topbasket 22. In this drawing, the cup holder 82 is shown in dashed linesin a raised position as indicated by arrow 90. by releasing the clip 88attached to the second side 50, the cup plate 84 is rotated upwardly onthe clip 88 attached to the rear 66. In this manner, the cup holder 82can be moved out of the way with the foldable rack 64 is folded againstthe rear 66 of the open top basket 22.

[0031] While the invention has been particularly shown, described andillustrated in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments andmodifications thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in theart that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made thereinwithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention asclaimed except as precluded by the prior art.

The embodiments of the invention for which as exclusive privilege andproperty right is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A cup holderattached to a side of an open top basket of a shopping cart, the cupholder used for holding different types and sizes of a beverage cup, thecup holder comprising: a circular cup ring, said cup ring adapted forreceiving a portion of a beverage cup therethrough; and a vertical cupring support, a lower portion of said cup ring support adapted forattachment to the side of the open top basket, said circular cup ringpivotally attached to a top portion of said cup ring support.
 2. The cupholder as described in claim 1 wherein said cup ring support is a roundtelescoping cup ring support with the top portion slidably received inthe bottom portion of said ring support.
 3. The cup holder as describedin claim 1 wherein said cup ring support includes advertising thereon.4. The cup holder as described in claim 1 further including a swivelattached to the top portion of said ring support, said cup ring attachedto said swivel.
 5. The cup holder as described in claim 1 wherein saidcup ring support is a flat slide cup ring support with the top portionslidably received in the bottom portion of said ring support.
 6. A cupholder attached to sides of an open top basket of a shopping cart, thecup holder used for holding different types and sizes of a beverage cup,the cup holder comprising: a “U” shaped cup support having a horizontalcross member with ends attached to the top of a pair of verticalmembers, the vertical members adapted for attachment to opposite sidesof the open top basket; and a “L” shaped cup plate having at least onecup hole therein, said cup hole adapted for receiving a portion of thebeverage cup, said cup plate attached to said cup support and suspendedtherefrom.
 7. The cup holder as described in claim 6 wherein saidvertical members include a top portion slidably received in a bottomportion, the bottom portion of said vertical members attached to theopposite sides of the open top basket.
 8. The cup holder as described inclaim 6 further including a small item carrier attached to said cupsupport and suspended therefrom.
 9. The cup holder as described in claim6 wherein said cup plate includes a plurality of cup holes therein. 10.The cup holder as described in claim 6 wherein said cup support includesa pair of horizontal support members, the opposite ends of said supportmembers attached to said vertical members.
 11. A cup holder incorporatedinto a portion of an open top basket of a shopping cart, the cup holderused for holding different types and sizes of a beverage cup, the cupholder comprising: a circular cup ring adapted for attachment to aportion of the inside of the open top basket of the shopping cart, thecup ring receiving a portion of a beverage cup therethrough and holdingthe beverage cup in an upright position.
 12. The cup holder as describedin claim 11 wherein said cup ring is adapted for attachment to a portionof a bottom of a foldable rack attached to a rear of the open topbasket.
 13. A cup holder attached to a rear of an open top basket of ashopping cart, the cup holder used for holding different types and sizesof a beverage cup, the cup holder comprising: a circular cup ring, saidcup ring adapted for receiving a portion of a beverage cup therethrough;and a ring frame attached to said cup ring, said ring frame pivotallyattached to the rear of the open top basket of the shopping cart. 14.The cup holder as described in claim 13 wherein said ring frame includesa pair of pivot arms, one end of said pivot arms pivotally attached tothe rear of the open top basket of the shopping cart.
 15. The cup holderas described in claim 13 further including a pair of cup rings mountedinside said ring frame.
 16. A cup holder attached to a rear of an opentop basket of a shopping cart, the cup holder used for holding differenttypes and sizes of a beverage cup, the cup holder comprising: a circularcup, said cup ring adapted for receiving a portion of a beverage cupthereon; and a cup plate, said cup mounted on top of said cup plate,said cup plate pivotally attached to the rear of the open top basket ofthe shopping cart.
 17. The cup holder as described in claim 16 furtherincluding a pair of circular cups mounted on the top of said cup plate.18. A cup holder attached to a rear and a side of an open top basket ofa shopping cart, the cup holder used for holding different types andsizes of a beverage cup, the cup holder comprising: a flat cup platehaving a cup opening therein. the cup opening sized and adapted toreceive a lower portion of a beverage cup therethrough; and attachmentmeans for releaseably attaching said cup plate to the rear and the sideof the open top basket.
 19. The cup holder as described in claim 18wherein said attachment means is a pair of clips attached to sides ofsaid cup plate for engaging a portion of the rear and side of the opentop basket.
 20. The cup holder as described in claim 18 wherein aportion of a top of said cup plate is used for advertising.